The NOLS Alaska Program Supervisor helps students and instructors have a safe, high-quality, and meaningful field experience. Based at our campus in Palmer, you’ll prepare instructor teams before they head into the field, support them throughout their course, and help them reflect and grow when they return, through teambuilds, briefings, debriefings, and staff performance evaluations that shape their careers at NOLS.

NOLS Alaska runs sea kayaking, mountaineering, hiking, and packrafting expeditions in Prince William Sound, the Chugach, Talkeetna, and Wrangell mountains, and the Alaska Range. Program Supervisors are part of a close-knit program team that upholds program quality, drives improvement in routes, curriculum, and risk management, and connects field staff with NOLS leadership. This is a seasonal position from late April or early May through August 2027, with on-site housing available for a modest fee.

Key Information

What does a Program Supervisor do?

• Supervise NOLS Alaska expedition courses (backpacking, sea kayaking, and mountaineering), applying your field expertise to support instructor teams and uphold program standards.
• Facilitate instructor teambuilds, briefings, and debriefings that address logistics, routes and permit requirements, curriculum, risk management, and course goals.
• Deliver technical skills training during briefings, such as river crossings for hiking teams, rescue skills for sea kayak teams, and crevasse rescue for mountaineering teams.
• Develop an assessment plan with each instructor team, and partner with the Program Manager on assessment and Course Leader readiness conversations.
• Write timely, specific Staff Performance Evaluations (SPEs) for every instructor, grounded in the NOLS Field Instructor Skills and Accepted Field Practices.
• Mentor instructors on career progression, including first-time Course Leaders, instructors-in-training, and new and international staff.
• Communicate clearly and compassionately with staff, students, and families, and support the Evacuation team on complex field situations.
• Act as a liaison between field instructors and NOLS leadership, keeping communication clear and timely.

Course Operations and Collaboration

• Review and approve course logistics sheets and route plans drafted with the Program Assistant, keeping them aligned with transportation, flight, and water-taxi schedules.
• Attend weekly logistics meetings and communicate route or schedule changes promptly to the Alaska team, pilots, and water-taxi operators.
• Track briefing and debriefing tasks in the Program Supervisor Task Matrix so courses can be handed off smoothly between supervisors.
• Ensure accurate camping data and permit reporting, and complete post-course administration such as academic credit grades and incident and near-miss reports.
• Close the learning loop by gathering route feedback and course survey themes and contributing to curriculum, resources, and the season summary.
• Collaborate with fellow Program Supervisors and partner with Education, Risk Management, Admissions, and the Field Staffing Office to improve student and staff experiences.
• Model and teach NOLS curriculum in leadership, risk management, Leave No Trace, and environmental studies on campus and in the field.
• Drive courses between the field, campus, and airport in vans with trailers, and step into short-term emergency field coverage when approved by the Program Manager.

• Complete onboarding and shadow an experienced supervisor on a briefing and a debrief before leading your own.
• Brief and debrief seven to nine courses in your disciplines, from teambuild through instructor debrief.
• Write SPEs for every instructor you supervise within two weeks of each debrief, and recommend level changes to the Field Staffing Office.
• Contribute route feedback, curriculum updates, and season-summary input that improve next season’s courses.

What makes a great Program Supervisor at NOLS? 

We are looking for people who share our values and are keen to learn and develop their expertise. While our ideal candidate comes with the skills listed below, we expect to provide training and development support in some of the areas.

When prompted to upload your resume, please submit one PDF document that includes both your resume and cover letter combined.

If you have any questions during the application process, please reach out to the NOLS People Team at [email protected].

Who is NOLS?

NOLS is a nonprofit global wilderness school that strives to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment. Our community—staff, students, trustees, and alumni—shares a commitment to wilderness, education, leadership, safety, community, and excellence. 

We believe that anyone can be a leader; it is our role to provide the environment and training to help people discover their full potential. We do that in classrooms close to home and in remote wilderness areas around the world. We are an organization with heart, expertise, and wildness, and these qualities help us support powerful, authentic experiences.

Why is NOLS a great place to work?

• Global Reach: With locations across the U.S. operations in six countries, and courses running in all 50 states and more than 10 countries, you’ll be part of an organization with a truly worldwide impact.

• Course Discounts: Receive special pricing on NOLS courses for yourself and your family.

• Comprehensive Benefits: Full-time employees are eligible for a robust benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Flexible Time Off: We offer a flexible time off policy that empowers employees to take the time they need for rest, adventure, and personal priorities without the constraints of traditional accrual systems.

• Employee Assistance Program: Access confidential, 24/7 counseling and support services to help you maintain balance and well-being.
  

Additional Information

To support pay transparency and equity, the posted salary range is fixed. We encourage you to explore our opportunities that fit your pay expectations. 

NOLS currently can support remote employees with legal working rights in the following locations: Canada; India; Mexico; New Zealand; the US, states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Pre-Employment Check

• A criminal background check is required from all NOLS employees.

• NOLS participates in e-verify for U.S. employees, Certificado de Antecedentes for Chilean or Mexican employees, and other relevant employment verification systems based on location.

• Current NOLS employees please note it is NOLS policy to conduct an internal reference check with People Team and/or your current supervisor as part of the reference check process. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact [email protected].

Equal Employment Opportunity

NOLS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. All employment decisions — including hiring, promotions, compensation, benefits, transfers, training, layoffs, and terminations — are made without regard to any protected status and are based on legitimate business needs, qualifications, and merit. The school’s nondiscrimination policy applies to all phases of its employment process, its admission and financial aid programs, and to all other aspects of its educational programs and activities. Retaliation directed to any person who pursues a discrimination complaint or grievance, participates in a discrimination investigation, or otherwise opposes unlawful discrimination is prohibited.

Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be requested for disability; limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; religion; and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or harassment by emailing [email protected] with your request.